FAIRFAX, Va. - The University of Delaware men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will begin their quest for postseason glory on Wednesday evening when the Blue Hens open up the Colonial Athletic Association championship meet at George Mason’s Jim McKay Natatorium.

The competition, which will be hosted by the Patriots for the 11th straight season, will kick-off tomorrow with preliminaries at noon and finals at 6 p.m. The following three days will have trials at 10 a.m., diving at 1 p.m., and finals at 6 p.m.

A complete schedule as well as links to live stats for the meet can be found on caasports.com.

Led by head coach John Hayman, the men tied the program’s best finish ever last season after coming in third during the title meet. Highlighted by three conference titles, the team was only out-distanced by Old Dominion and eight-time defending champion UNC Wilmington.

On the women’s side, Delaware placed in the top-five during eight events on the way to a sixth-place showing. Towson earned the overall team championship for the second straight season.

Individual champions will be crowned in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1,650-yard freestyles along with the 100- and 200-yard events in the backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke as well as the 200- and 400-yard individual medley and the 1- and 3-meter dives. Relay titles will also be awarded in the 200- and 400-medley relays and the 200-, 400-, and 800-freestyle events.

Entering the title meet, senior Hans Gillan (above) has posted the top time among all conference competitors in both the 100-backstroke and 100-butterfly. The reigning CAA champion in the fly, he also placed second in the 100-freestyle during last year’s meet.

Grady Carter enters the championship meet in fine fashion as well, carrying with him the second best time in the 50-freestyle and the third fastest in the 100. The Blue Hens also look strong in the 200-backstroke as Craig Young ranks third in that event, while Ryan Roberts stands fourth.

On the women’s side, Courtney Raw cruised to the third fastest time in the 100-backstroke, while Stephanie Dodd stands fifth in the 400-individual medley. After finishing as the runner-up in a pair of events during last season’s championship, junior Cortney Barry also has high hopes after recording the fifth best time in the CAA this year in the 1,650-freestyle.

Erika Bilenki has been the women’s top diver during the year, recording the league’s fifth-best mark in the 1-meter board. The freshman standout also ranks ninth in the 3-meter dive entering the championship meet.

Single-session tickets for the competition are $8 for adults and $6 for youth and seniors. All-session tickets are $45 per person. There will be no advanced sales, and tickets must be purchased at the Jim McKay Aquatic Center.